Feeding and catching table



Sept. 1-8, 1934. R. J. WEAN ET AL FEEDING AND GATCHING TABLE Filed April 16, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS Wm# 19- aw Se t. 18, 1934. R. J. WEAN ET AL FEEDING AND CATCHING TABLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 16, 1932 INVENTORS Sept. 18, 1934.

Filed April 16, 193- 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS 5 SheetsQ-Sheet 4 R J. WEAN ET AL FEEDING AND CATCHING TABLE FiledApril l6, 1932 Sept 18, 1934.

Sept. 18, 1934.

R. J. WEAN ET AL FEEDING AND CATCHING TABLE Filed'ApIil 16, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 n? fin H H I @I I P PH I o r 40 table.

Patented Sept. 18, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FEEDING- AND CATCHING TABLE a corporation of Ohio Application April 16, 1932, Serial No. 605,599

24 Claims. (Cl. 80-47) .10 for feeding packs 'of sheets to a finishing mill,

receiving the packs of sheets therefrom, and returning them over the top roll of the mill for further rolling. The packs are heated in a pack furnace and delivered therefrom by a run-out conveyor to the mechanical handling means for feeding them through the finishing mill.

The mechanical equipment which has heretofore been available for handling the packs of sheets to and from the mill rolls has been found objectionable for several reasons. The feeding and catching tables now in general use, for example, are tiltable about a substantially central axis. The discharge angle of the catching table on returning a pack over the mill is therefore excessive and slippage of the pack on the conveying chains of the table may result in marring the sheets. The driving mechanism, furthermore, of the present type of equipment is located to the side of the table and interferes to a considerable degree with the easy operation of the other apparatus in the mill. Since the table is tilted substantially at its center, the rear end of the table is depressed when the table is tilted for returning the pack of sheets over the mill. It is .35 quite possible that the leading end of a pack being received on its return movement over the rolls by the feeding table will pass under the discharge end of the run-out conveyor extending from the pack heating furnace to the feeding The feeding and catching tables used heretofore have not been identical so that it has been necessary to provide spare tables of both types to prevent shut-down due to failure of either a feeding or a catching table. We have invented a table for handling packs of sheet material to and from reducing rolls, which overcomes the foregoing objections to present types of tables and, furthermore, is characterized by numerous additional features of novelty. In accordance with our invention, we provide a table for handling material to and from the mill, which is pivoted adjacent its rear end. The angle of discharge for returning a pack over the top roll of the mill is thus reduced and the possibility of marring the sheets by sliding of the conveyor chains thereunder is reduced. The driving mechanism for the tables is placed thereunder so that the amount of floor space necessary is reduced and interference with other operations or apparatus is avoided. The feeding and catching tables are substantially identical in construction and it is necessary to provide only one spare to insure substantially continuous operation. Since the rear end of the table does not shift substantially in a vertical direction, it is possible to provide a bridging conveyor between the table and the run-out'conveyor to insure proper support for the pack both in approaching the feeding table for the first time and in being returned over the top of the mill for repeated rolling.

Other novel features of our invention include the provision of energy-storing means such as a stretched spring for aiding the motors effecting the tilting of the tables, for the purpose of accelerating movements of the latter. The location of the tilting axis at the rear end of the table also makes it possible to raise the table to a vertical position if it is desired to clear the space adjacent the rolls for removal or changing rolls. This operation is not possible with the present type of table.

In order to prevent localized cooling of the packs by their contact with the conveying chains of the tables, we have designed a chain of rela- 5 tively light mass and provide means for reflecting to the pack a substantial portion of the heat radiated therefrom. Instead of driving the conveying chains through the tilting axis, we have provided a drive which, while co-axial with the tilting axis of the table, is entirely independent of the latter.

Other novel features include the sheaves at the forward end of the table for guiding the conveyor chain, actuating means for a control switch and flags for operating the latter in accordance with the movement of the material over the tables.

For a. complete understanding of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings illustrating a present, preferred embodiment of the invention. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a table;

Figure 2 is a partial sectional view along the line 11-11 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic side elevation to reduced scale of a finishing mill having feeding and catching tables associated therewith;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the table;

Figure 5 is an enlarged partial plan view of a detail thereof;

Figure 6 is a side elevation view of the detail shown in Figure 5;

Figure '7 is an enlarged plan view of the novel chain for conveying packs over the tables;

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the chain shown in Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the plane of line IX--IX of Figure 1 Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along th line X-X of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the table; and

Figure 12 is a side elevation of that portion of the table shown in Figure 11.

The invention is particularly applicable to the finishing stand of a sheet mill such as that indicated at 10 (Fig. 3), although it is not limited thereto. Feeding and catching tables 11 and 12 associated with the finishing mill 10 are adapted to pass packs through the 'mill and back over the top roll thereof for repeated rollings. The tables 11 and 12 are substantially identical and are illustrated in greater detail in Figures 1, 2 and 4 through 12. A description of one of the tables will make clear the construction and operation of both.

The feeding table shown in Figure 1 comprises a base 13 supported on a bed plate 14 by means of leveling screws 15. The base 13 has a lower deck portion 16 and an upper deck portion 1'7. Bearing brackets 18 and 19 on the upper deck portion 1'7 are provided with bearings 20. A casting 21 of substantially channel section constitutes the frame of the table. The depending flanges of the table frame casting at the rear thereof are provided with trunnions 22 received in the bearings 20.

Between the brackets18 and 19, a worm reducing gear 23 is located. A motor 24 is connected directly to the high-speed shaft of thereducing gear. Sprockets 25 are carried on the slowspeed shaft of the reducing gear which is co-axial with the trunnions 22. Conveyor chains 26 are trained over the sprockets 25 and traverse the length of the frame 21 being guided thereon by rails 2'7.

At the forward end of the frame, bearing brackets 28 support a shaft 29 provided with stationary sheaves 30 thereon for guiding thechain around the end of the frame. The shaft is locked in the bearings and the sheaves keyed to the shaft. Idler sheaves31 on a transverse shaft 32 guide the chains back to the driving sprockets 25.

The chains 26 are made up of links 33 connected by pins 34. Each pin 34 carries a roller 35. The links 33 are provided with windows or cut outs as at 36 to reduce the weight of the chain. The rolls 35 traverse the rails 27 and the sheaves 30. The latter have a central rib 30a corresponding to the rail. The reduction in the mass of the chains effected by perforating the links reduces the amount of metal to be heated by conduction from the packs, such as that indicated at 3'7, carried thereon. The central portion of the frame casting 21 is concave in cross section as shown at 38 in Figure 2. This surface is polished so that heat radiated from the pack 37 will be reflected thereto. The holes 36 in the chain links, furthermore, permit heating of the edge portions of the pack by heat radiated from the central portion thereof and reflected through the chains tothe edges of the pack. I

A bracket 39 secured to the housing of the reducer 23 carries an idler conveyor 40 which is pivoted thereto. An adjusting screw 41 on the bracket is provided for shifting the angle thereof. The idler conveyor 40 serves to bridge the space between the run-out conveyor indicated diagrammatically at 42 in Figure 3, and the table.

' Side edgers 43 are carried on arms 44 pivoted to the frame 21. The side edgers 43 are main tained in parallel relation by links 45 connecting the arms 44 on each side of the frame and an interconnecting link 46 connecting all the arms together. The side edgers of the table shown are normally urged to their outermost position by means of springs 4'7 and chains 48. An adjustable stop 49 movable in an arcuate bearing 50 determines the position of the edgers. The edgers on the feeding table are normally maintained close together so as to guide the pack firmly into the rolls. The edgers on the catching table are conversely biased to their wide open position. Each edger comprises a casting 51 channelshaped in cross section and a wearing strip 52 riveted thereon. It is thus possible to renew the wearing surface without the necessity of renewing the entire edger.

Crank plates 53 are secured to the frame casting adjacent its rear end and extend downward- 'ly thereof through slots in the upper deck 17 of the base 13. A link 54 connects the crank plate to a crank 55 driven by a motor 56 through a speed reducer 5'7. The motor 56 and the speed reducer 5'7 are mounted on the lower deck 16 of the base 13. An electromagnetic brake 58 is associated with the high-speed shaft of the reducer 5'7 and a limit switch 59 is driven from the slow-speed shaft thereof by a chain and sprocket drive (not shown).

Adjustable springs 60 mounted in the base 13 are connected by means of chains 61 traversing sheaves 62 and 63 to assist the motor 56 in tilting the table frame 21 so as to raise the end thereof adjacent the mill. The chains 61 are connected to the crank plates 53 at 64. The sheaves 62 are keyed to a shaft 65 in the base 13. Sheaves 63 are keyed to a shaft 66. The shaft 65 also carries sheaves 6'7 mounted on the same hubs as the sheaves 62. Chains 68 pinned to the sheaves 6'7 extend around the latter and are likewise pinned to sheaves 69 keyed to a shaft '70 journaled in the base 13. A worm wheel '71a keyed to the shaft '70 meshes with a worm on the shaft 71. A hand wheel '72 is mounted on the shaft '71 and the shaft '70 carries a pointer '73. The combination just described constitutes a Windlass for facilitating the elevation of the table.

By operating the hand wheel '72 so that the shaft '70 is turned clockwise, the chain 61 operates to tilt the table 21 in the same direction. In order to permit tilting of the table, however, the links 54 must be disconnected from the crank plates 53 by the removal of pivot pins '74. The

table is positively held in elevating position until the hand wheel 72 is reversed to permit lowering thereof. When the table has been lowered to proper position, this is indicated by the position of the pointer '73. In the normal position of the parts, the chain 68 is slackened suificiently to permit oscillation of the crank plates 53 as the result of the rotation of the crank 55.

The motors 24 and 56 are controlled by a flag switch 75 located on the forward end of the table. The limit switch 59 also controls the motor 56. The flag switch '75, as well as the limit switch 59, is known and, therefore, is not described in detail as to the arrangement of its contact-making mechanism. Its shaft 76 is operated by a sprocket '77 thereon and a chain 78 traversing the sprocket. The chain 78 extends from a springtightened terminal 79 around the sprocket 76, around a sprocket 80 on a shaft 81 to a second spring-pressed terminal 82. The shaft 81 is journaled in the brackets 28 and is provided with flags 83 adapted to be engaged by packs moving on to and off of the table. The sheaves 30 are cut out to clear the shaft 81. Tilting of the flags 83 in either direction, obviously, actuates the shaft '76 of the switch 75. The spring-pressed terminals 79 and 82 permit the movement of the chain necessary to operate the switch and, at the same time, always maintain the chain taut.

While our invention relates chiefly to the structure of table which has already been described, the operation of the apparatus will now be explained and a brief statement of the advantages flowing from'each of the novel features will be appended. The auxiliary relays and contactors necessary to control the motors 24 and 56 in response to operations of the limit switch 59 and the flag switch 75 are now well known in the art. Specific illustration and description thereof are, therefore, thought to be unnecessary. The con trol system is designed to coordinate properly each operation necessary in the sequence of passing a pack repeatedly through the rolls. As the rolls are driven so as to have a peripheral speed of about four feet per second, the necessity for such coordination is quite apparent. The speed at which the combination system makes it possible to roll sheets is one of its chief advantages. When a pack has been delivered to the feed table 11 from the run-out conveyor 42, and the tables are in position to feed the pack through the rolls, a manual controller is operated by the roller to start the motors 25 of the feeding and catching tables in a direction such as to operate the conveyor chains to feed the pack through the mill rolls and pick itup as it emerges therefrom. The flag switch '75 on the catching table is operated by the movement of the pack. Thus the flag is first canted clockwise as it is engaged by the pack and is returned to the vertical after passage of the sheet by the operation of the spring-pressedterminals. The initial operation of the flag sets up circuits for the reversal of the motors 24. and the operation of the motors 56 to tilt the tables. These circuits are completed on the return of the flags to vertical. The brakes 58 are released as the tilt motors 56 are energized. On release of the brakes, the springs 60 become effective immediately to swing the crank plates 53. The springs thus assist the tilt motors to raise the tables to the position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1. When the tables have reached such position, the limit switches 59 stop the tilt motors 56. The operation of the flagswitch also immediately reverses the table motors 24 so that the pack is fed from the catching table over the top roll to the feeding table. The passage of the pack over the flag switch in the reverse direction causes the operation of the tilt motors to lower the tables. The completion of the table lowering operations and the restoration of the flag switch to vertical causes the reversal of the table motors to feed the pack through the rolls again. This cycle will be repeated until the rollers manual controller is restored to off position, and

means may be provided for causing such restorathe springs 60 are stretched to assist the tilt motors in the next table-raising operation.

The control system for the tilting and table motors is not part of our invention but is described more fully and claimed in the co-pending application of McIlvried, et al., Serial No. 581,202, filed December 15, 1931, for Rolling sheets and packs.

The principal advantages of the structure above described are that it can be operated automatically at high speed and properly coordinated with the other elements of the combination system. The feeding and catching tables are substantial duplicates and can be interchanged if necessary. The number of spare units which it is necessary to keep on hand is therefore reduced. The location of the tilting point at the rear of the tables reduces the angle of inclination thereof in returning thepack'over the mill. The possibility of slippage of the conveyer chain's under the pack is thus reduced. The returning pack cannot become jammed between the end of the table and the conveyor leading thereto, and the tables can readily be retracted to the vertical for roll changing.

The conveying chains are designed to minimize heat loss and the concave polished surface of the table frames reflect to the packs a substantial proportion of the heat radiated therefrom. The friction of the conveyor chains on the table frame is reduced by providing chains with rollers traversing guide rails. The power for driving the conveyor is supplied directly to the driving sprockets by the speed reducer independently of the tilting pivots of the table. I

The fixed sheaves at the forward ends of the tables eliminate lubrication dificulties which have heretofore been experienced due to the fact that the rolls are occasionally enveloped in a gas flame for the purpose of.heating them to correct the contour of the pass. Since the sheaves do not turn on their shaft, no lubrication is necessary. The successive portions of the conveyor chains remain in the heated zone for a time so short that no difiiculty is introduced by the heating thereof.

The linkage connecting the tilting crank to the table is short and direct. The tilting and conveyor motors are disposed under the tables and the conveyors leading thereto so that the floor space occupied by the entire apparatus is very small. The tables are such that they may be supported on leveling screws without grouting or lashing to a foundation. This method of supporting the tables permits extreme flexibility in their use. The speed reducers for the tilting and conveyor motors are identical, further reducing the number of spare parts necessary. The conveyor and tilt motors are likewise identical. The tilting linkage is simplified by using the speed reducer bearings for the cranks.

1 The idler conveyor between the tables and the run-out conveyor is of advantage in that it permits reversal of the pack without engaging the driven rollers of the run-out conveyor. The possibility of marking the pack is thus avoided. The idler rollers provide support for the end of the pack farthest from the mill when returning it over the top roll. If the reversing pack were backed up on the driven run-out conveyor, there would necessarily be slippage between the pack and the rolls.

The springs for actuating the tables on the upward or lifting movement thereof make possible a very quick operation of the tables. This result could not be obtained by increasing the size of .beyond the mill rolls.

the tilt motor because of the slow acceleration of larger motors. The tilting spring actually causes the tilt motor to be overhauled after the latter has started.

The automatic control of the table and tilt motors insures the repeated passage of the pack through the mill in the shortest possible time. The tables are reversed and the tilt motor started as soon as the pack has passed the flag switch on the catching table. The location of the flags at the extreme end of the tables causes the reversal of the table motors with the least possible overtravel of the pack. At the same time, the speed of the table in lifting insures that the reverse end of the pack will clear the cheek of the top roll. The lowering of the catching table starts as soon as the pack has passed off the end thereof so that the catching table is always in receiving position before the tables are reversed for the second forward pass of the pack. Since the reversal of the table motors is also governed by the feeding table limit switch, the tables cannot be reversed until they are in proper position. The extra time made available by starting the catching table down before the feeding table makes it possible forthe tilt motor on the catching table to stretch the lifting spring and lower the table before the feeding table has been lowered and both tables reversed. The possibility of the returning pack emerging from the mill under the catching table is thus avoided.

By the use of two flags for operating the flag switch, the possibility of a reversalof the tables before the ears of a pack have passed beyond the rolls is eliminated. It is common experience in rolling packs that ears tend to form at the edges of the pack on the trailing end. If a single flag engaging the middle of the pack is relied on, it is obvious that the tables may be reversed before the long ears at the edges of the pack have passed The two flags are positioned to engage the ears at the rear end of the pack and insure the passage thereof beyond the end of the table before the latter is reversed and lifted. A similar advantage accrueswhen the setting of the-mill causes one edge of the pack to be elongated more than the other. In any case, operation of the flag switch to reverse the table is prevented until the extreme end of the pack has passed beneath the rolls.

. The advantage of the stationary forward sheave for the conveyor chains in avoiding lubrication difficulties has already been pointed out.

The manually operated mechanism for raising the tables to vertical is always positively connected to the tables so that accidental falling thereof is impossible. A power drive for table lifting could readily be substituted for the manual drive. At the same time, the normal oscillation of the tables is not interfered with since the slack in the manual lifting'chain is suflicient to permit such oscillation.

Some spring counterbalancing effect is desirable for the feeding table although not as essential as with the catching table, since the former is raised when empty while the latter is raised when loaded.

The function of the perforated conveyor chain and the concave polished surface of the frame casting in heat conservation have been mentioned.

The weight of the moving parts of the apparatus is kept down by the use of special light alloys for parts such as the side edgers. The necessary motor capacity for operation is therefore mini mized.

Although we have illustrated and described herein but a single present preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious that other embodiments thereof may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims. I

We claim:

1. In a feeding and catching table, a control switch having a rotatable shaft, means for operating said switch comprising a second rotatable shaft, means engageable by material traversing said table for rotating the second shaft, sprockets on both said shafts, a single length of chain traversing said sprockets, and spring terminals for the ends of said chain.

2. Apparatus for handling sheet material in a rolling mill comprising a table in line with the mill and having one end thereadjacent, trunnions on said table at the end remote from the mill, bearings for pivotally supporting the table through said trunnions, conveying chains traversing said table, driving sprockets for said chains and a shaft for said sprockets co-axial with said trunnions but independent thereof.

3. A tilting table for handling material at rolling mills comprising a frame having one end bifurcated, trunnions secured to said end, and bearings for said trunnions providing a pivotal support for the frame, a speed reducer positioned within the bifurcated ends and having a slow speed shaft co-axial with said trunnions, conveyor chains carried on said frame, sprockets on said shaft for driving conveyor chains on said frame, and a motor for driving said speed reducer.

4. Apparatus for handling sheet material in a rolling mill comprising a base, a table tiltably mounted thereon, conveyor chains traveling along the table, a motor on the base for driving said chains, and a motor on the base for tilting said table, said conveyor driving motor and table tilting motor being disposed centrally on the base andsymmetrically with respect to the center line of the table and the mill.

5. In a rolling mill, feeding and catching tables on opposite sides thereof, said tables being substantially identical so as to be interchangeable, each comprising a base, a frame tiltably mounted thereon, conveying means on said frame, a frame tilting motor, and a conveyor driving motor, said motors being disposed on the base symmetrically of the longitudinal axis of the table and the center line of said mill, and below the frame.

6. A feeding and catching table comprising a frame, bearings providing a pivotal mounting for one end of said frame, guide rails extending along said frame, stationary sheaves at the other end of the frame, conveyor chains traversing said guide rails and sheaves, driving sprockets for said chains, and means for supporting said sprockets co-axially with the pivotal axis of the frame but independent of said bearings.

1. A feeding and catching table comprising a frame, bearings providing pivotal support for said frame adjacent one end thereof, conveyor chains traversing said frame, stationary arcuate guides at the other end of the frame for guiding said chains therearound, and sprockets for driving said chains positioned adjacent the pivoted end of the frame and co-axial with said bearings.

8. In a tilting tablefor feeding and catching material at rollingmillsj the combination with a 9. In a feeding and catching table, a base, a frame tiltably mounted on said base, crank plates secured to the sides of said frame, crank mechanism and a driving motor therefor located substantially centrally of said base below said frame, and linksconnecting said crank mechanism and said crank plates.

10. In a feeding and catching table, a base, a frame pivotally supported on said base, crank arms secured to the sides of said frame, a crankoperating mechanism below said table including a motor and a speed reducer driven thereby, mounted substantially centrally of said base, eccentrics on opposite ends of the speed reducer, and links connecting said crank-arms to said eccentrics.

11. In a feeding and catching table, a base, a frame pivoted adjacent its rear end to said base, a motor and speed reducer mounted on said base below said table, said speed reducer having a transverse shaft, an eccentric on said shaft, a leg depending from said pivoted frame, and a link connecting said leg to said eccentric.

12. A tilting table for feeding and catching material in a rolling mill, comprising a frame, a base having a pivotal mounting for one end of the frame, crank plates depending from both sides of said end of the frame, a reducing gear on said base having a slow speed shaft transverse to said frame and eccentrics on both ends of said shaft, a motor on said base for driving said gear, and links connecting said eccentrics to said crank plates. 1

13. In a feeding and catching table, a tilting frame, means for conveying material along said frame, said frame including a reflecting surface curved transversely thereof for reflecting heat radiated thereto from said material.

14. In a tilting table for handling material at rolling mills, the combination with a frame, guide rails thereon, conveyor chains traversing said guide rails, the frame being curved transversely between said rails for reflecting heat radiated from material supported on said chains.

15. In a feeding and catching table, a tiltable frame, conveying chains traversing said frame, said chains comprising a plurality of links pinned together, each link having a window to limit the absorption of heat thereby.

16. In a feeding and catching table, a conveyor chain for receiving hot material and conveying it along said table, said chain comprising links provided with windows to restrict heat transmission therethrough.

1'7. In a tilting table for handling material at rolling mills, a conveyor chain comprising a plurality of pins, chain supporting rollers journaled on said pins, and links on both ends of the rollers for connecting said pins, said links having windows therein intermediate the pins to reduce the heat absorption.

18. In a tilting table for feeding and catching material at rolling mills, a base, a tilting frame pivoted thereto adjacent one end, crank plates depending from both sides of said frame, a tension spring in said base, and flexible means connecting said spring with said crank plates.

19. In a feeding and catching table, means for actuating a control switch comprising a pivoted finger adapted to be actuated by material on the table, a sprocket on said table connected to the finger for operation therewith, a sprocket for shifting said switch, a single length of chain traversing said sprockets, and means for resiliently maintaining said chain taut.

20. A feeding and catching table comprising a base, a frame tiltably mounted thereon, and normally oscillatable through a predetermined angle, a Windlass on the base for swinging said frame through a greater angle, said Windlass having a flexible tension member permanently secured to the table and normally slacked.

21. A tilting table for handling sheet material in a rolling mill comprising a frame in line with the mill and having one end thereadjacent, spaced pivot bearings for the end of the frame remote from the mill, chains traversing said frame, and a drive shaft having sprockets engaging said chains, said shaft being independent of said frame, between and co-axial with the pivot bearings.

22. Apparatus for handling sheet material in a rolling mill comprising a table, conveying chains traversing said table, trimnions projecting laterally of the table, a shaft independent of said table and extending transversely thereof, driving sprockets for said chains on said shaft, and trunnion supporting bearings on each side of the table whereby said table is tiltable about the axis of said shaft.

23. A tilting table for handling material at rolling mills comprising a frame, trunnions at the end thereof remote from the mill, bearings for pivotally supporting the table through said trunnions, conveyor chains traversing said frame,

a speed reducing gear having its slow speed shaft mounted coaxially with but independent of said trunnion bearings, sprockets on said shaft for driving said chains, and a motor connected to the high speed shaft of the reducer.

24. In a rolling mill, the combination with reducing rolls, a run-out conveyor so mounted adjacent the mill as to deliver hot material in one direction from a furnace toward said rolls, of a tilting table between said run-out conveyor and the rolls having a reversing conveyor thereon for handling the material at the mill, a reversible motor for driving the reversing conveyor, and a reversible idler conveyor between said run-out conveyor and said table.

RAYMOND J. WEAN. ARCHIBALD D. EVANS. 

